Bark-removing machine



H. L. CROUSE AND C. M. JOHNSON.

BARK HEMovING MACHINE.

H. L. CROUSE ANDC. M. JOHNSON. BARK REMOVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IIIAIIl I4. I92I.

1,438,904. Patented De@.'II2,1922.

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BARK REMOVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILEDMAR,14.192|.

Patented 4Des. 12, 1922.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H. L. CROUSE AND C. M. IOHNSON.

BARK REMOVSNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAII. I4. I.9 2I.

IAssoq, Patented De@.12,1922.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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H. L. CHOOSE ANO C. IvI. JOHNSON.

BARK REMOVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILEO NIAII. I4. I92I.

1,438,904. I Patented Dee.12,1922.

6 SHI-.ETS-SHEET 5.

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I v n @WW1/toto (iwi/mma" effl. foae'@ H. L. OROUSE ANO OM. JOHNSON.

BARK REMOVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAN, L4. 1921.

LAOOOA.

Patented DOO. l2, 1922.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

Fateuted Der.. l2, 1922..

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.. CROUSE, OF WASHBURN, AND CARL M. JOHNSON, F WOODLAND, MAINE.

BARK-REMOVING MACHINE.

Application filed March 14, 1921.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it @own that we, HERBERT L. CnoUsE and CARL M. JOHNSON, citizens of the United States, residing` at Washburn and oodland, respectively, in the counties of Aroostook and Washington and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Bark-Removing Machines; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as'rviF enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

@ur invention relates to machines for re moving bark from pulp wood and comprises loriey feedin means for the logs, a log rest co-operab e with the feeding means in supporting the logs, and a bark removing cutter above the feeding means and log rest.

@ne object of the invention Vis to provide a novel arrangement of parts for simultaneously moving both the cutter and the log rest, toward or from the feeding means, according to the size of the logs, a single hand-control being employed for eifecting the proper adjustment of said cutter and rest.

`@ther objects are to provide novel means for carryingA and vertically adjusting the cutter head, to provide a unique type of rotatable gauge for controlling the depth of the cut taken by the cutter head, and to construct the cutter head in a simple and efficient manner to prevent any possibilityv of the blades digging into the log to an undesirable extent.l

' Still further objects are to provide a novel arrangement of parts for mounting the log feeding wheels, to provide unique lubricating means for the driving connections of said wheels, and to devise an eilicient variable speed friction drive for said Wheels.

With the foregoing and minor objects in i view, the invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement of parts-hereinafter fully described and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplemented by the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bark removing machine constructed in accorda-nce with our invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 isa vertical longitudinal sectional view..

serial No. 451,987.

Figure 4c` is a top plan view with parts broken away and in horizontal section.

Figure 5 is a detail horizontal sectional view as indicated by line 5-5 of Fig. 6.

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view as indicated by line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional View as designated by line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the rotary cutter and its carrying frame.`

Figure9 is a detail vertical sectional View through one of the feed wheels and associated parts.

.Figure 10 is a detail Ivertical sectional vlew as indicated by line 1010 of Fig. 1, showing more particularly parts of the variable speed driving mechanism for the feeding wheels.

Figure 11 is a side elevation of the rolling gauge wheel.

Figure 12 is a vertical sectional view thereof as indicated by line 12-12 of Fig. 11.

Figure 13 is a side elevation of the rotary cutter head.

Figure 14 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cutter head, as indicated by line 14--14 of Fig. 15.

Figure 15 is a vertical transverse section as indicated by line 15-15 of Fig. 13.

Figure 16 is a plan view of one of the cutter blades.

in the drawings above briefiy described, the numeral 1 designates a horizontally elongated frame preferably constructed of angle iron and mountedon-skids 2.' These skids however 'may well rest on appropriate chocks 3 when the machine is set up for use. so as to prevent rotting. 0n the rear end of the frame 1, the main drive shaft 4 is mounted, said shaft being positioned transversely of the frame and having a pulley 5 to engage a driving belt not shown. The front end of the frame is of greater width than the rear endthereof and is provided with upper and lower sets of short longitudinal bars G and 7 respectively. As shown most clearly in Figs. 4 and 6, a -plurality of horizontal plates 8 are supported by the upper bars 6, one edge of said plates being pivoted to the bars 6 by means of vertical shafts 9 which rise through said bars and plates, as shown in the figures referred to and also well illustrated in Fig. 9. The free edges of the several plates 8 overlap the pivoted edges of the adj acentplates so that a shield is formed to prevent pieces of bark and wood from .interfering with the driving gearing below the plates. Each plate 8 is provided with an opening l() and a plurality of toothed log feedingl Wheels 1l are rotatably 'supported in t e several openln'gs u on appropriate shafts 12, one side otsai wheels-11 being provided with gear teeth .'13 meshing with horizontal bevel 4gears 14which are bolted to similar gears 15 rotatable upon the lower ends of the shafts 9. (see Fig.\9 The gears 15 mesh with bevel gears. lvon a transverse horizontal Ashaft 17 mounted in bearings 18 which'aresecured to the bars 7, said shafts-17 being rotated by the means yet to be described.

In addition to carrying thelshafts .17, it will beseen that the bearings 18 also rlgidly supportthe vertical shafts 9, and we prefer 'that these shafts 9 shall be of the tubular form shown in Fig. 9 to contain oil for'the purpese'of lubricating the gears; 15 and the bearings 18, suitable oil holes 19 and 20 being-provided for this purpose.

It will be seen that the gearing aboveldescribed will drive the log feeding wheels 11 and by mounting' these wheels on the plates 8 and making provision for turning these plates. upon thelr pivots, the angular relation of said wheels with respect to the logs, may be varied, whereby to cause either slow or rapid feeding, while -at lthe same time rotating the log. For swinging the plates 8 upon their pivots and holding them in adjusted position, we preferably connect saidv plates by' a bar 21 shownmost clearly in Fig. 4, one end of -said bar being con; nected at 22 withv arsuitable hand lever 23 which may well be' locked in adjusted position .by an appropriate rack 24. It will-be ".observedvthatre ardless ofthe` extent to which the severa plates are "swung, they V45.

still form an' effective shield to preventany undesirable amount of bark and 'the like from falling onto the subjace'nt driving'gearforthe wheels'l'l. Y

in lightly in' rear-of Iand, above the .feed

wheels 11,.-is` 'a log -rest which preferably comprises'a transverse shaft 25j-and appro: priate log su porting rollers 26 mounted thereon, said s aft bemg rotatably mounted in bearings 27 which rise .from' longitudi nally dis osed slide bars 28,- these bars being -slida 1y mounted on tracks -29' which are A.supported by, ap ropriatespacers 30 from the uppermost othe longitudinal bars 31 of the frame 1. The slide bars 28 are provided with racks 32 meshing withpinions 33 on a transverse shaft 34 mounted in bearings on the side bars 31. A lever 35 and ratchet mechanism 36 Jisem loyed for turning shaft 34 as. required anti dog 37 is shown for holding said shaft shaft 34 in one direction. however is prevented by the dog 37 ,as will 1trame 38,` we mount a ring-11k an appropriate oted at' 40 to posts 41 which rise from a 1 transverse bar 420i said frame 1, said frame 38 being also connected with the main frame 1 by appropriate brace rods 43 which diverge rearwardly asshown in Fig. 2 and thus prevent any appreciable lateral motion of sald frame 38. The frame in question, however is permitted slight lateral tilting so that the cutter 39 may oscillate to a slight extent according to irregularities in the logs.

Near 'as from; end, frame as is provided with a pair of laterally extending guide arms 44 through which thereduced upper ends 45 of .a -pairof vertical rack bars'46 extend slidably. These rack bars are in mesh with gears 47 on the shatl34 and it will be seen that rotation of this shaft will therefore raise or lower the bars 46 to ver-- tically adjust the cutter carrying frame 38. The two bars 46 are rigidly connected b a transverse bar 48 (see Fig. 7) and a coil spring 49 is interposed between said bar 48 and a guide 50 carried by the frame 38, a vertical pin or the like 51 being preferably passed through the spring, the guide 5 0 and the bar 48 so `as to. properly hold the several Y l parts in their relative positions. The spring 49 supports the weight of the frame 38 and cutter 39 upon the bar 48 which is in turn supported by the vertical rack bars 46 and this weight has a tendency to rotate the Such rotation be clear by referring to Fig. l.

The rotary cutter 39 is mounted on a shaft i 52 carriedby the frontend of the frame'38, said shaft being parallel to the shaft 25 and being driven 'by' appropriate belts 53 fromv vpulleys 54 on the main drive shaft 4. The

'ciitter is housed in an appropriate-casing 55 and between this casing and one' side of the' e gauge wheel 456. Thehub 57 of the wheel 56. loosely Surrounds the shaft 52 of the cutter 39 and the wheel is mounted sothat it mayswing lati I erally after the fashion of a caster wheel, Y l

soas to truly roll vu o n the logs instead of' dragging thereomg E e prefer to mount the wheel 56 on a swinging'arm which consists of psarallel side plates 58 shown' most clearly 1n igs. 11. and. 12, the inner ends of said."l Y plates bemg provided with upstanding pivot 1 30V iaaegooa pins 59 which are rotatably and slidably received in guides 60 on a post 61 rising from frame 38. 'A hand lever 62 is fulcrumed' to the post 61 and has its front end received between `lugs 63 which extendfroni the inner end of the wheel carrying arm, an appropriate rack 64: being employed for holding said lever in adjusted position. By the arrangement of parts described, the wheel 56 may be vertically adjusted by properly operating the lever 62 and as said wheel travels on the logs as they are fed through the machine, it regulates the depth which` the cutter 39 is allowed to cut. ln the present showing, the auge wheel operates in connection with a xed gauge bar 65 which is located at the end of the cutter 9 remote from said wheel. This gauge bar as shown for instance lin Fig. 6, slides on the logs after the bark has been removed therefrom,

but the wheel 56 travels on the bark. This wheel may swing laterally when encountering knots or the like and since the log is both rotated and longitudinally fed, said wheel will at most times assume an oblique position so as to roll freely.

While it will be appreciated that any form of rotary cutter 39 may be employed, we prefer that the construction detailed in Figs..13 to 16 shall be used. In these figures, the numeral 66 designates a hollow flat-sided head having internal integral hubs 67 keyed on the shaft 52.l At longitudinally spaced points', the head 66 is provided with ycircumferentially extending flanges 68 whose outer edges are-of circular form, Ibeing provided with notches 69 co-incident with two opposed flat sides of the head 66. These notches receive a pair of cutting blades 70 which are notched at 71^to receive the portions of the flanges 68 at the inner ends of the notches 69, said blades being additionally notched at 72 for the reception of bolts 73 by means of which they are clamped against the opposed dat sides of the head 66. The cutting edges of the blades extend slightly beyond the flanges 68 and while these flanges are notched in front of said cutting edges as seen at 74, they will prevent them from digging an excessive distance into the logs.

Heretofore, we have referred to driving means for the shaft 1,7 and while this means might assume any adequate form, we prefer to employ the construction shown. A gear 74 is secured on this shaft and meshes with a pinion' 75 on a transverse shaft 76 which is supported in appropriate bearings on certain of. the bars 7. Shaft 76'is provided with al bevel gear 77 meshing with a pinion 78 on a longitudinal shaft 79 which is located at one side of the frame 1' and held rotatably by appropriate bearings 80. 0n shaft 79, is a slidable friction wheel 81 whose periphery contacts with the flat driving surface of another friction wheel 82 ona transverse shaft 83 which is driven `by 'a belt Sel and pulleys 85 from the main drive shaft 4C'. A suitable thrust bearing 86 and a lever 87 are provided for crowding the friction wheel 82 against the wheel 8l when the latter is moved from its idle position at the center of said wheel 82. `We have shown the lever 87 connected by a link 88 and thumb? screw 89, with a vertical hand lever l90 which is appropriately connected by a rod or the like 91 with the hub of the sliding wheel 81. When this wheel 81 is at the center of the wheel 82 and is consequently idle, the link 88 is parallel with the shaft 83, as shown for instance in Fig. 4 and hence the wheel 82 is not in driving contact with the wheel 81. When lever 90 however is swung to shift the wheel 81 towards the periphery Aof wheel 82,l angling of the link 88 causes it to pull upon the-lever 87 thus crowding the wheel 82 into tight driving contact with the wheel 81. enever necessary, the thumby screw 89 may be operated to relatively adjust the levers 87 and 90 and a suitable rack 92 may be einployed for said lever 90, the link 88 and thumb nut 89 serving to hold said lever in engagement with the rack as will he clear from Fig. 4. i

We prefer to drive the shaft 25 and the rollers 26 .from the shaft 76 and for this purpose, we have shown sprocket chains 93 and sprockets 94, certain of these sprockets being mounted at the juncture of two pivotally connected arms 95 whose outer ends 'are pivoted on the shafts 25 and 76. These arms serve to properly'space the sprocket wheels and keep the chains 93 tight, regardless of the amount which shaft 25 is shifted toward and from the feed wheels 11. I

In operating the machine, lever 35 is operated to elevate the frame 38 of cutter 39 according to the size of the log from which bark is to be removed. Raising of this frame and cutter simultaneously moves the log supporting rollers 26 rearwardly from the feeding wheels 1l and the log `may then be placed in proper position upon said, wheels and rollers. Thel frame 38 is now allowed to lower by gravity, by releasing dog 37., until the rotary cutter 39 acts on the log as it is fed through the machine by the wheels 11. As frame 38 lowers, the rollers 26 move forwardly into proper operative engagement with the log. The wheels 11 cooperate with the rollersl 26 in rotating the log while feeding the same longitudinally so that the cutter 39 will remove the bark entirely around the log. 1Whenever necessary, the gauge wheel 56 may be raised or lowered to regulate the depth of cut. ln

. is preferably followed.` We wish it understood however that within the scope of the invention as claimed, the machine may be embodied in numerous forms other than that herein disclosed.

We claim: l. In combination, a frame, a horizontal row of log feeding wheels mounted thereon,

a horizontal rotatable log rest on the frame parallel with said row of feeding wheelsfor holding the logs a ainst said Wheels, said log rest being adjusta le toward and from said wheels, a bark removing cutter abovel said wheels mounted for adjustment toward and,

from the frame, and means for synchronizing the adjustments of said log rest and cutter, .including means for permitting movement of said cutter independently of said logrest.

2. A rossi'ng machine comprising a frame, a horizontal row of log feeding wheels n thereon, a horizontal'rotatable log rest parallel with said row of feeding wheels for holding the logs against said wheels, -a horizontally movable carrier for said log rest mounted on said frame, a bark removing cutter above said feeding wheels, a vertically ably connected with this carrier to permit 3. A ross'ing machine comprising a frame,-

log feeding wheels mounted on said frame, a log rest adjacent said wheels, a bark removing cutter above said wheels, movablecarriers for said rests and cutter, and connecting means between the two carriers for simultaneously adjusting them and synchronizing their movements and for permitting free movement of the cutter carrier independently of the other carrier,

4. A rossing machine comprising a frame, a horizontal row of log feeding wheels4 thereon, a horizontal rotatable log' rest par-v allel with said row of feeding wheels for holding the logs againstsaid wheels, a horizontally movable carrier for said log rest mounted on saidframe,= a bark removing cutter above said feeding wheels, a. vertically movable carrier for. said cutter mounted on said frame, rackv bars connected with said carriers respectively, and gearing mounted on the frame in'mesh with said rack bars for simultaneously adjusting both carriers and synchronizing their movements, the rack'bar of the cutter carrier being slidto the logs.

vertical movement thereof independently of the other carrier. v

5. In combination, a frame, log supporting and feeding means thereon, a bark removing cutter above said supporting and feeding means, a vertically movable carrier for said cutter mounted on said frame, a vertical adjusting bar for said carrier and means for operating said bar, said carrier having a guide through which the upper end of said bar passes slidably, and means yieldably supporting said carrier on said bar.

6. In combination, a frame, log supporting and feeding means thereon, a bark removing cutter above said supporting and feeding means, a vertically movable carrier for said cutter mounted on said frame, said Acarrier having a pair of guides, spaced adjusting bars whose upper ends pass slidably through said guides, a 4horizontal bar connecting said adjusting bars, spring means supporting said carrier from said horizontal bar, and means for operating saidadjusting bars to raise and lower said carrier.

7. A bark removing machineI comprising a frame, bark removingl means thereon, a

ygang of log feeding wheels, a plurality of plates pivotally mounted on said frame and having openings in which said wheels are mounted, driving means for said wheels below said plates, the latter being disposed in overlapping relationand forming a shield vfor said driving means, and means for holding said plates when adjusted on .their pivots to vary the angle of the wheels with respect 8. A bark removing machine comprising a frame, log feeding and guiding means on said frame, a rotary7 driven cutter above said feeding and guiding means, a vertically movable carrier for said cutter mounted on saidframe` and a gauge wheel for said cuty .ter pivotally mounted on said frame on a vertical axis and adapted to roll on the logs, said wheel being free to swing horizont-ally to different angles'.

.9. A bark removing machine comprising a frame, log feeding and guiding means on said frame, a rotary driven cutter above said feeding and guiding means, a vertically movable carrier for said cutter .mounted on s/aid frame, and a ring-like gauge wheel for said cuttei l surrounding the drive shaft' thereof 'and mounted on said carrier to move vto positions oblique to thelogs.

10.'A bark. removing machine comprising' .a frame,4log feeding' and guiding means on said frame, a rotary driven cutter above sa'id feedingI and guiding means, ay vertiiiol cally movable carrier. for said cutter mountedon said frame, al ring-like gauge, wheel for said cutter surrounding the drive shaft thereof, a carr ing arm for said wheelcomprising space side 'v plates between which a frame, logfeeding and guiding means on -said frame, a rotarX driven cutter above said feeding and gu1ding means, a vertically movable carrier for said cutter mounted on said frame, a gauge wheel for said 10 cutter adapted to travel on the logs, an,

arm carrying said` gauge wheel, means mounting said arm on said carrier for free horizontal swinging and for vertical adjustment, and means for holding said arm in vertically adjusted position.

In testimony whereof. .we have hereunto set our hands.

. HERBERT L. CROUSE.

CARL M. JOHNSON. 

